OOC: I set up the topic, so no worries you don't have to do it. You can choose whether I play your Shadow or you do, it's fine if you want to play or if you want me to play, I don't have no problem with either. ^^ Also did I mention, you remind me a lot of Chie from Persona 4. If you've ever heard of or played the game before you'll know who I'm talking about. I partially got this idea from there anyway. Though I adapted it to its own setting with my mind. But, yeah have fun, sorry for the length of this message.

Often times, the evidence of a troubled mind is in the inability to function properly throughout everyday life. The individuals suffering would slowly atrophy because their own souls are battling them and winning. They are defeating their minds, overpowering them quite easily and snapping them as if they were twigs. Well, you must have the strength to face others in life; Quintessentially, everyone must learn this lesson. But, what some do not know is that there is a time when one will have to face oneself and that takes even more courage....

Everyone has things they hide. Everyone has hidden thoughts and feelings. Everyone has secrets. Part of what makes life and our interaction with one another as human beings so interesting is the urge, the yearning, the want, the need to know what the other is thinking. What the other is feeling; and more importantly, what the other is hiding. We as human beings always yearn for the truth, be it hidden or not, we always wish to know something, a secret, a knowledge, a thing that is not something personal to us. We love to know gossip for whenever a conversation flares out. But, mostly, it is the suppression of the being with a secret that keeps us from ever being COMPLETELY honest with each other. What if that were to change?

"Hey Mero, mind if I ask why we're training here anyway? I mean I thought the other place was good enough but you suggested we come here, any particular reason?"

It looked to be a completely empty field with tall grass swaying in the gentle winds that blew by. It was quite calm and relaxing. No life, nothing was in the area; and it seemed there never would be anything here. It was like this were a place, a secret place, on Earth that no one knew about, but, then again, things on Earth were not like this. We had gone through the portal once more to this alternate dimension, one that seemed to have a peaceful setting.

'I know you're hateful of me now, Damascus, I know you're hateful of what I've done. But it was the only way. I can sense your want to fight me, to destroy me for ever having defaced and disgraced the honor and royal family of this kingdom, but you will do what the king wishes. And if you do decide to disobey what his heart wishes for and take me on... you know my power, do you think you can come close to defeating me, even at my weakest? Do not mess with my kind Damascus, I am a witch of much power, I am a skilled swordsman and you may be one of those two things but you will certainly not best me....'

I continued to look right at him staying in the embrace of my father, my only support at the moment. My eyes did not hold hate but warning to Damascus's unkindness.

'You were always so kind to me and now that you find out my secret you will not accept me anymore? You will not show me the kindness you usually show all living things because I am not male? Well, that is just the same as saying I will not accept or be kind to you for your secret you keep well away from society, but, I know it...'

Damascus looked at Utena and spoke aloud, "Utena get your words out of my head". The king again ignored the moody Damascus and continued chatting, "My dear Utena shall I bring you to your room? You need to rest".

"I'll get back to my room soon enough, father. I request you leave me in the capable hands of my friend, Mero. Which reminds me, you two have not been acquainted yet. Father, this is Mero Imaimashi, honorable friend of mine."

I shot a glance to Damascus, that glance containing the power I had left of trapping him from moving. To put it simply, I immobilized him from moving, freezing his nervous system and sealing the spell so that only I could undo it. Serves him right.

"I have the pact with the neighboring town by the way, but, I sort of got side tracked because of all the drama. If one of the maids would prepare tea for us I would be happy to tell you about it over a drink and lunch. Mero, join us!"

I blinked and the pact zapped into her back pockets, if she had them, on her outfit so that she could directly hand it to my father. And with the last bit of strength I had, I smiled and fainted.

I bowed to the king, "Your Majesty". The king and I shared a look as Utena passed out. He had a maid come and take Utena to rest in her room. "Mero you must come with me, we shall discuss Utena and your travels. Damascus go and check on Utena, I trust you'll take good care of him..her". The king directed me out of the room and into the dinning room. Damascus however couldn't move and he clenched his teeth in anger.

I was transported back to my room and comfortably laid in my bed by one of the maids whom worked here. They were always so kind and loyal to me, unknowing my secret besides one or two who had figured it out, but, surely now, they knew and they didn't love me any less than they did when they were oblivious.

Nonetheless, within the hours I lay in my bed, I woke up and the wound was still there but it didn't hurt as much as it used to, it was just sore and slowly closing up. I awoke to tea being brought to me on a tray and I sipped it, to hopefully, recover my strength. However, as I was asked if I could stand, I could not, hence forth went the conversation.

"My... prince... if you still desire to be called that, can you stand?"

"I think I can, Otoha, thank you. And yes, I do wish to be regarded as a prince."Trying to stand proved failure, I wasn't able to walk on my legs just yet, wasn't quite strong enough but my arms were fine. To compensate for my not being able to walk, a pair of crutches were handed to me and I, happily, got up and made my way over to the room where the king and Mero were sitting and talking. With the help of Otoha that is.

"Anything else you'll be needing my liege?"

"No, Otoha, I am fine for now. The only thing I require would be another cup of tea, please and thank you. You know, I truly do appreciate your services, I'd bow to you right now, but, sadly, I do not have that capability. So, here's thanks to you."

Softly, I planted a kiss on her cheek nearest to me and she blushed the color of a healthy rose. Obviously taken aback by this action she couldn't focus for a moment and found herself lost in a daydream mode for a minute or two before crashing back to reality. I chuckled, it was rather amusing when she did that, although I don't know why. But, she happily went off to make the tea and to do anything that she was required to do, leaving me to chat with my friend and my father.

"Hello there."

I greeted them softly, my voice no longer strained and back to its womanly quality as I huddled over to where they were.

The King and I both turned and smiled at Utena. "Hello dear, please sit down. How you feeling?" The king asked his daughter worried. It was nice to see that even though she had kept her true self hidden away from her family, the king accepted her with open arms. "I was just filling the king in on the recent happenings with the Shadows" I told her.

"I'm not at my best but, I'm doing better than I was before. Well, that's good Mero, did you give him the doctrine?"

I smiled and hobbled to a seat, sitting down. Otoha came in soon enough with my cup of tea and an extra surprise for me, a doughnut with my favorite topping on it, cinnamon. It seemed she'd been baking earlier today and saved me one. I smiled, that was sweet of her. Why was she always so incredibly nice to me when she didn't have to be?

"Thanks Otoha. So, where do you think these shadows come from and why do you think they decide to attack when they do, seeking the death of their original?"

I was always thoughtful on this, since, now, it seemed like all the shadows had run their course. Mero's had been defeated, Bryant's had been defeated and now mine was defeated, but, what triggers them to show? That had me curious. My sky blue eyes were back to normal as was my short hair, but, long enough to make me seem like a tomboy in the least. I smiled at my father and Mero, sitting here was nice.

"I really want to figure this out because if there are more than maybe we can prevent when it's about to happen. Mero's shadow was no easy battle, Bryant's was hell and mine.... well you saw. I was there for all 3 and these are powerful creatures, I should have known what was going on.... but, I just couldn't deal with the bullshit she was spouting, you know. I'm sorry again for lying to you, my king."

"Yes, Mero had her shadow and so did Bryant. Both of them are my closest friends and they were attacked the same way I was. They all claimed the same thing, they were one's true self, the inner thoughts of the original... but I don't know where they come from and why they seek to destroy anything in their way along with their originals. It just doesn't make sense to me. Without the original they would never have existed."

"I'm not to clear on the motives but I think the reason they showed up was because our secrets we were hiding became to heavy for us to bear anymore. They made the decision that we needed to face them for us".

"Or perhaps you lost control over your inner processes enough to set them free. Think of it this way, they are prisoners in your minds, kept in the holding cells where you keep all your thoughts, but, they are locked in heavy since they weigh heavy on your mind and heart alike, you're always trying to conceal them, always thinking on them but never revealing them or acting on them. If you lost control somehow over your inner selves or your subconscious thoughts, that could have triggered the events that happened. If you were locked up for a very long time wouldn't you want to become free? And, what I'm seeing this as too is that the shadows, the thoughts in your mind, they also speak for your heart. It is the need, the want to show them, to tell the truth and to want to be seen for the real you and accepted but we put up these barriers, hence the shadows aren't really all that bad, they smash those barriers, don't you think?"

I thought Otoha had left, but, sipping my tea, she did make some interesting points.

"I don't know, I just thought of it, gathering from you've said. You know, before I started looking for work, I used to attend a university. It was far away from here, and don't get me wrong, I'm happy here anyway, but, you see, I was studying to be a lawyer. So it's my job to take the evidence I've been given and piece it together to either support a claim or reject it, no? And besides that, I like to read, you have to when you're a lawyer, plenty of books. I liked the fantasy ones about the heros on a journey risking life and limb to save everything they care for. That sort of reminds me of you, my prince and your valiant friends."

"I don't know about you guys but I don't want to fight any more shadows. They really mess ya up after a while. ^^"

I looked to the hole still there in the midst of my body. She really did do some damaged. Ah well, it'd heal soon and I don't think bandages would it do any good.

"Oh yeah, I forgot something."

I blinked and that set Damascus free of the immobilization and "freezing" I placed upon his central nervous system. He was now free and I expected him to come find me immediately. I simply sat and drank my tea.

I just remembered something, "Oh Utena here" I said as I slide her ring off my finger and held it out to her. "I forgot to give it back sooner, sorry".

Damascus walked in around that time looking angry. He shot a look to Utena but ignored her for the most part. "Your majesty is there anything you need me to do?" The king shook his head, "Some food would be nice. And bring enough for everyone". Damascus nodded and went off to get some food.

I sent the telepathic message directly to his thoughts then noticing that Mero was giving me back my ring. As soon as she placed it in my hands I grabbed one of hers and put it back in her palm. I smiled sincerely.

"No, I want you to have it. It wasn't just to remember me by, I truly would give it to you whether or not I won or lost that battle. Keep it."

I laughed quietly. Our quiet chatting had gotten the inention of the King. "What are you girls gossiping about?" He asked curious. At that time Damascus walked in with a few other maids, carrying platters of food.

"Nothing, father, sir. If you'll excuse me, I think I must go look up something in my magic book, quickly."

I excused myself from the table shortly and hobbled my way over to where my magic book was located. I smiled and turned the pages to the desired section. Softly, I read aloud....

"Girls born of fathers and boys born of mothers, help this gentleman to show his true colors."

Suddenly, there would be a dramatic change in Damascus's attitude. He'd become more flamboyant and transparent as to who he was with the spell upon him. I smirked, I read how to undo it when necessary and then hobbled back over to the table, joining my father and Mero, whom I smiled deviously at.

I raised an eyebrow questioningly at Utena. She had a devious look about her and I wonder what she was up to. Suddenly Damascus yelped, "Gosh darn it! I broke a nail!" he said in a whinny pouty voice. Everyone stared at him like he was crazy. "What?" he asked, his voice more feminine. I shot a look over at Utena and smiled. Must be her doing, this new attitude of his.